Tapper keg valve



July 20, 1965 c. c. BAUERLEIN TAPPER KEG VALVE Filed DGO. 14. 1962INVENTOR Car/ 6I 500e/Ven? p y r A TTOR E YS United States Patent O3,195,855 TAPPER KEG VALVE Carl C. Bauerlein, Clearwater, Fia., assignerto The Dole Valve Company, Morton Grove, lil., a corporation of IllinoisFiled Dee. 14, 1962, Ser. No. 244,611 4 Claims. (Cl. 251-129) Thisinvention relates to a control Valve and more particularly relates to animproved valve construction for use in dispensing beverages such as beeror carbonated drinks or the like and to a means of mounting the valvewithin a container.

in forming a valve designed to dispense fermented beverages such asbeer, it is essential that the structure be of a smooth and continuoussurface, entirely free from yundercuts, crevices and pockets in whichforeign bacteria can harbor and breed. Such bacteria wauld spoil theWort and result in disagreeable liavors and spoilage, and the moststringent methods of sterilization are necessary to maintain theintegrity of the product. This requirement will dictate not only thatthe valve have smooth and continuous walls but that the materials ofwhich it is composed be stable enough for repeated sterilization withoutbeing harmed.

This sterilization process is usually performed by backilushing with apowerful detergent, under heat and pressure, and this stream mustpenetrate all areas of the structure in order to eliminate al1pathogens. At the same time, the subsequent rinses must remove all ofthe detergent in order to preserve the flavor of the beer.

it has been found that the use of rubber as in seals, gaskets anddiaphragms usually transfers oit flavors when subjected to suchtreatment and an object of my invention is to provide a valve free fromany davor-imparting components.

It is a principal object of my invention to provide an improved fluidcontrol valve designed primarily for use in dispensing beverages.

Another object of my invention resides in the provision of a valve ofthis character having flow restrictor means formed therein for retardingthe flow of liquid as it passes through the valve to prevent unduefoaming of the beverages as it is dispensed but with means formodulating the ilow to provide a controlled amount of foam in the glass.

Yet another object of my invention is directed to the provision of avalve structure employing a minimum number of components at a cost whichpermits disposal after a determined number of usages. Another object ofmy invention is to provide a simple, positive method of assembly to thecontainer, sanitary and secure, without gaskets or screws or fasteners,yet which cannot readily be removed by rough handling or by unauthorizedpersons.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention will appear fromtime to time as the following specification proceeds and with referenceto the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 a vertical sectional view through a fluid control valveconstructed in accordance with the principles of my invention andshowing a container in broken BQES Patented July 20, 1965 ICC centralaperture 12 formed therein and defined by an inwardly extending annularrim 13 formed integrally with the wall 11. A chamber 14 is formed withinthe container itl and serves to contain a beverage to be dispensed.

The fluid control valve per se is indicated generally by the numeral 1Sand comprises a housing having a chamber 16 formed therein and having aside wall 17 and opposed end walls 18 and 19. ln the embodiment of myinvention shown in FIGURE 1 the end Wall 19 comprises a diaphragm whichis molded integrally with the housing. An inlet passage Ztl openscentrally through the end wall 18 to the chamber 16 and an outlet spigot21 has an outlet passage 22 formed therein which also opens to thechamber 16. An intake tube 23- is shown as being molded integrally withthe housing and as being communicable with the intake passage 2d. ifdesired, the intake tube 23 could also be formed as a separate memberand tt'ed over a nipple defining the inlet passage Zt).

ln the embodiment of my invention shown in FIG- URE l the housing isformed in two parts which are fitted together at 2li. Heat can then beapplied to the joint to provide a weld between the plastic body parts.Plastic is the material preferably used in making the valve structureinasmuch as this material is best suited to use in making parts whichmust come in contact with foods or beverages.

The exterior of the housing has relatively large and small diameterportions 2,5 and 26 formed at the outlet and inlet ends7 respectively,of the valve body. An annular skirt 27 extends rearwardly from the largediameter portion, which skirt tapers outwardly in a forward direction todene a shoulder 2S. A ange 29 is also formed integrally with the housingand extends outwardly from the housing at a point spaced forwardly ofthe shoulder 28 in a rearward direction. It can hex to exclude dirt bymaking tight contact with the container. The largest external diameterof the skirt Z7 is slightly greater than the inner diameterof theannular rim 1.3.

The parts are arranged so that the valve body can be pushed into thecenter aperture 1?, formed in the recessed end wall 11 until the skirtZ7 is forced all the way through the aperture and into the positionshown in FiGURE l with its shoulder disposed in engagement with theinnermost portion of the inturned annular flange 13. When the valve isseated in the posit-ion shown in FIGURE l the flange Z9 is placed undera slight compression load so as to maintain the valve in the positionshown in FIGURE l.

As above noted, the valve body is formed of a plastic material and thediaphragm which acts to form the end wall 19 is molded integrally withthe housing.

The diaphragm has an outwardly extending raised bead 30 formedtherearound and has a valve rod 31 formed integrally therewith andcentrally thereof having an elongated portion 32 extending into theinterior of the chamber 16 for axial movement therein and having a head33 extending exteriorly of the diaphragm. A shoulder 34 is formed at anang-le of about 45 with respect to the center axis of the valve rod 31intermediate the large and small diameter portions 35 and 36,respectively, of the chamber 16. The shoulder 34 acts as a seat for avalve member 37 which is connected to and operated by the valve rod 31.The valve member 3'7 has a face which is complementary to the seat 34and which is cooperable with that seat to control the flow of liquidfrom the inlet passage 20 to the outlet passage 22. The valve member 37also has a guide 38 extending rearwardly thereof which is triangularlyshaped in cross section as may be seen in FIGURE 3 and which may beconsidered as an extension of the valve rod 31. The guide 38 extendsinto the inlet passage 2d and acts as a rearward guide for the f sa boss39 formed integrally therewith which is seated in close fit-v tingcoaction with the small diameter portion of the chamber'l. A spiral formgroove 40 is cut within' the lsidewall of the boss 39 to define a spiralform passage tion shown in FIGURE 1,.'liquid can freely pass-from )theinlet end of the chamber 16 between the inclined seat 34 and thecomplementaryface of the valvey member 37 and thence through the spiralform passage formed be-k i tween the boss 39 and the housing wall to theVoutletend l ofthe chamber 16 and vthen through the outlet passage 22.,Upon movement of the valvej rod 31 to the right as shown in FIGURE ltheface of the valve member 37 will s,

contact the inclined seat'34 and liquid iiow through' the Y valve willcease.

positioned in engagement with a stop block 44 formed integrally with thehousing.v Aniintermediate section of the finger 43 extends over andengages the outwardly extendingy portion 33 Vof the valverod 31. Inaddition, an arm v so that when the handle is pulled in a clockwisedirection vto the position Viewed in FIGURE lrthe intermediate por-`tion of the fingerl 43 will'move sufficiently toy the left to depressthe valve rod 31 and unseat the Valve member 37 from lthe seat 34. Whenthe handle 41 is released the resiliency of the finger 43 will act toreturn the handle 41 to a normal position in whichfthe arm 45 is'inengage'- ment withthe portion 48 of the housing. Y It is yimportant tounderstand that in the position shown in FIGURE 1 the finger 43 is in astressed conditionv and that the outer free end V,of this finger willremain in engagement with the block 44 even though the handle 41 ispivotedy in a counterclockwise direction. Y

The embodiment of my invention illustratedin FIG- t URE 2 differs Afromthat shown in FIGURE 1 only in that a diaphragm 50 is provided, which isseparate from the housing 51j As with the structure shown in FIGURE f othe 'diaphragm V50. 'Also, the diaphragm SQmayfbe 1 however,'the valverod 31 is formed integrally with formed of the same or a differentmaterial as the housing S1 and is preferably formed of aresilient-plastic material which is suitable for use in par-ts whichcome in'contact withfoodstuffs. In thisembodiment ofthe inventionthethin walled diaphragm 5,0 has a relativelythick walled substantiallyrectangularly yconfigurated annular bead 52 formedaboutthe peripherythereof.' Thebead S2 has an outer side wall 53 which taperslinwardlyfrom the inner to the outer surface of the bead. An undercut annulargroove 54 -is formed within the housing 51 about the chamber 16 andiscomplementary in configuration to the beadgSZ so that the bead canbesnapped into the position-shown in FIGURE 2 to securely lockthediaphragm 50m its proper position in the housing 51." Thismethod ofsecuring the diaphragm to the housing offers the greatest'simplicityinsofar as manufacture and assembly is co'ncerned and yet forms a cleaninner :surface for the cham-' ber "16V and diaphragm 50 so that noYgrooves or'sharp corners or Vthe like are provided which lmightV act to'e11- invention" have been used for illustrative.purposesnly and-thatvarious modifications' and variations in my in- Y vention may beeffected without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe novelconcepts thereof. I claim as my invention: A

1. A iiuid control valve comprising a housing having a 5r chamber formedtherein andhaving side and end walls definingsaid chamber, l V f v vaninlet passageopening through one of said walls of said housing to saidchamber, n

a;iie`xible diaphragm forming one end wall' of said housing, e l A `,anoutlet opening through said side wall of said housing to said chamber, vy

a valve rod connected to said diaphragm and extending into and guided bysaid inlet passage, e

a valve seat formed within said chamber between said inlet passage andsaid outlet and facing in the direction of said inlet passage.,

a Vvalve member connected to; said rodV and movable therewith andcooperable-with said Iseat lto control theflow of iiuid through saidvalve, y Y Y l flowvrestric-tor means for'retarding the flow of fiuid K`vrfromsaidinlet passage towardr saidI outlet once said valveisinanunseated,position, Y u Y a handle'pivotally mounted o n ysaid housinghaving a resilient finger formed integrallytherewith, said resilientfinger having an outerfree `end engageable with a portion'of saidhousing,l

ioV

ywherein a vcentral portion of said finger overlies and Y is engageablewith the outer free-'end of saidv rod so ythat pivotal movement of saidhandle in one direction will-bow said finger to effect'a movementI ofsaid rod. e Y 2f Agfiuid y'control valve V.comprising a e housing havinga chamber formed therein and having side and end walls defini-ng saidchamber,

.an inlet opening through one vof said walls of said hous- V `ingto saidchamber,

a flexible `diaphragm forming housing, n l an outlet opening throughsaidside wall of said housing to said chamber, t

a valve rod connected to said diaphragm ing intosaid chamber,` l a valveseatfformed within said chamber between said 1 inlet and said outlet, lva valve member 'connected Vto said krod and movable therewith andcooperable .with said seat to control 4 the flow of fluid through saidvalve, l

flow restrictor means for retardingv4 theilow of iiuid from said inletpassage toward said` outlet once said y Vvalve is in an unseatedposition, l,

and a handle pivotally mounted on said housing'having 'la resilientfinger formed integrally therewith, nsaidrresilient nger having anVouter free Vend engageable with a portion of said housing, whereinacentral portion lofy said finger overlies and is engageablewith'the'outer free'end of said rod soA that Y pivotal movement of saidhandle ingone direction will bow said finger to effect' movement ofsaidrod.

`3, A uid control valve comprising ahousing having Y a chamber'formedthereinV and having side rand end walls defining saidchamber, Y 5j j aninletopening through one of said walls of said housing tosaid chamber,an outlet opening through said side wall of said housing e to'saidchamber, a valve rod extending through one 'of saidl end Walls of saidhousing and extendingintosaid chamber,

one end wall of said and extendchamber,

. inlet and said outlet,

a valve member connected to Asaid'rod and movable g therewithjandcooperableV with said seat to control the ow of iiuid through, Vsaidyalve,

means guiding said rod for axial movement `within said a valveseatformed within said rchamber between said a iiow restrictor boss on saidvalve member having a side Wall having cl-ose iitting coaction wtih aside wall of said housing defining said chamber irrespective of theposition of said valve member relative to said seat,

a spiral form groove cut in the side wall of said boss and acting incooperation with the side Wall of said housing defining said chamber todefine a spiral form passage to conduct liquid from said inlet to saidoutlet when said valve is in an unseated position,

and a handle pivotally mounted on said housing and having a resilientfinger formed integrally therewith,

said resilient linger having an outer free end engageable with a portionof said housing, wherein a central portion of said finger overlies andis engageable with the outer free end of said rod so that pivotalmovement of said handle in one direction will bow said finger to effectmovement of said rod.

4. A fiuid control valve comprising a valve body having a chamber formedtherein and having side and end walls defining said chamber,

inlet and outlet passages opening through walls of said housing to saidchamber,

a port communicating said inlet and outlet passages,

a valve seat defining said port,

a valve member cooperable with said port to control the fiow of fluidtherethrough,

a valve member operator connected to said valve member and extendingthrough one -of said housing walls,

a lever member pivotally mounted on said valve body,

said pivotally mounted lever member contacting said valve body in both aclockwise and a counterclockwise rotational sense, thereby limitingpivotal movement of said lever to deiiections caused by stresses withinthe lever material itself,

said lever having a handle portion of substantially rigid material and afinger portion of substantially resilient material,

and a pivot point intermediate said handle and lever portions,

said finger portion being stressed about the outer free end of saidvalve member operator and having a finger tip terminating in contactwtih said valve body, thereby preventing pivotal movement of said iingertip.

References Cited bythe Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,095,127 10/ 37Curtin 251-126 2,202,179 5/40 Welty et al. 251-120 2,371,432 3/45 DePietro 251-3351 2,538,806 1/51 St. Clair 251-335 X 2,675,206 4/ 54Lindberg 251-237 3,082,783 3/63 Welty et al. 251-335 X LAVERNE D.GEIGER, Primary Examiner. MILTON KAUF MAN, Examiner.

1. A FLUID CONTROL VALVE COMPRISING A HOUSING HAVING A CHAMBER FORMED THEREIN AND HAVING SIDE AND END WALLS DEFINING SAID CHAMBER, AN INLET PASSAGE OPENING THROUGH ONE OF SAID WALLS OF SAID HOUSING TO SAID CHAMBER, A FLEXIBLE DIAPHRAGM FORMING ONE END WALL OF SAID HOUSING, AN OUTLET OPENING THROUGH SAID SIDE WALL OF SAID HOUSING TO SAID CHAMBER, A VALVE ROD CONNECTED TO SAID DIAPHRAGM AND EXTENDING INTO AND GUIDED BY SAID INLET PASSAGE, A VALVE SEAT FORMED WITHIN SAID CHAMBER BETWEEN SAID INLET PASSAGE AND SAID OUTLET AND FACING IN THE DIRECTION OF SAID INLET PASSAGE, A VALVE MEMBER CONNECTED TO SAID ROD AND MOVABLE THEREWITH AND COOPERABLE WITH SAID SEAT TO CONTROL THE FLOW OF FLUID THROUGH SAID VALVE, FLOW RESTRICTOR MEANS FOR RETARDING THE FLOW OF FLUID 